Game decoy system

Abstract

A game decoy system comprising a remote controller and a game decoy. The remote controller includes a communication element configured to transmit a wireless signal representing an input. The game decoy includes a body, a propulsion mechanism, a communication element, and a controller. The body has a shape resembling a game animal. The propulsion mechanism is configured to propel the game decoy. The communication element is configured to receive the wireless signal from the remote controller. The controller is configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy according to the input.

1 . A game decoy comprising:
 a body having a shape resembling a game animal;   a propulsion mechanism for propelling the game decoy in or on a body of water; and   a control system configured to determine positions of the game decoy, the control system including:
 a controller configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy; 
 a first input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a low energy return point according to a first position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the first input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy to the low energy return point when an energy level of the game decoy drops to a predetermined threshold; and 
 a second input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a travel center point according to a second position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the second input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy at least partially based on the travel center point. 
   
     
     
         2 . The game decoy of  claim 1 , wherein the control system further includes a global positioning system (GPS) module communicatively connected to the controller for determining the positions of the game decoy. 
     
     
         3 . The game decoy of  claim 1 , wherein the first input and the second input are push buttons on the body. 
     
     
         4 . The game decoy of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random first direction for at least a partially random first amount of time and subsequently to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random second direction for at least a partially random second amount of time when the first amount of time has elapsed. 
     
     
         5 . The game decoy of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to establish a travel radius centered on the travel center point according to an activation of the second input. 
     
     
         6 . The game decoy of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to transmit a signal representing at least one of a status of the game decoy and a position of the game decoy. 
     
     
         7 . The game decoy of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to enter a manual override mode in which the control system receives a signal representing operating commands and instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy according to the operating commands. 
     
     
         8 . The game decoy of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to wirelessly communicate with additional game decoys to coordinate movement of the game decoy and the additional game decoys. 
     
     
         9 . The game decoy of  claim 8 , wherein the control system is further configured to transmit a signal representative of a position of the game decoy such that the game decoy is configured to act as a master decoy. 
     
     
         10 . The game decoy of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery clip configured to receive replaceable batteries for powering the game decoy. 
     
     
         11 . A game decoy system comprising:
 a plurality of game decoys each comprising:
 a body having a shape resembling a game animal; 
 a propulsion mechanism for propelling the game decoy in or on a body of water; and 
 a control system configured to determine positions of the game decoy, the control system including:
 a controller configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy; 
 a first input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a low energy return point according to a first position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the first input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy to the low energy return point when an energy level of the game decoy drops to a predetermined threshold; and 
 a second input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a travel center point according to a second position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the second input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy at least partially based on the travel center point, 
 
   wherein the plurality of game decoys are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other to coordinate movement of the plurality of game decoys.   
     
     
         12 . The game decoy system of  claim 11 , wherein the control system further includes a global positioning system (GPS) module communicatively connected to the controller for determining the positions of the game decoy. 
     
     
         13 . The game decoy system of  claim 11 , wherein the first input and the second input are push buttons on the body. 
     
     
         14 . The game decoy system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random first direction for at least a partially random first amount of time and subsequently to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random second direction for at least a partially random second amount of time when the first amount of time has elapsed. 
     
     
         15 . The game decoy system of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to establish a travel radius centered on the travel center point according to an activation of the second input. 
     
     
         16 . The game decoy system of  claim 11 , wherein the control system is further configured to transmit a signal representing at least one of a status of the game decoy and a position of the game decoy. 
     
     
         17 . The game decoy system of  claim 11 , wherein the control system is further configured to enter a manual override mode in which the control system receives a signal representing operating commands and instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy according to the operating commands. 
     
     
         18 . The game decoy system of  claim 11 , wherein the control system is further configured to transmit a signal representative of a position of the game decoy such that the game decoy is configured to act as a master decoy. 
     
     
         19 . The game decoy system of  claim 11 , wherein each game decoy further comprises a battery clip configured to receive replaceable batteries for powering the game decoy. 
     
     
         20 . A game decoy comprising:
 a body having a shape resembling a game animal;   a propulsion mechanism for propelling the game decoy in or on a body of water; and   a control system including:
 a controller configured to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy; 
 a GPS module communicatively connected to the controller for determining positions of the game decoy 
 a first input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a low energy return point according to a first position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the first input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy to the low energy return point when an energy level of the game decoy drops to a predetermined threshold; and 
 a second input communicatively connected to the controller so that the controller establishes a travel center point according to a second position of the game decoy as determined by the control system when the second input is activated so that the controller instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy at least partially based on the travel center point, 
 the controller being further configured to:
 instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random first direction for at least a partially random first amount of time and subsequently to instruct the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy in at least a partially random second direction for at least a partially random second amount of time when the first amount of time has elapsed; 
 establish a travel radius centered on the travel center point according to an activation of the second input; 
 transmit a signal representing at least one of a status of the game decoy and a position of the game decoy; 
 enter a manual override mode in which the control system receives a signal representing operating commands and instructs the propulsion mechanism to propel the game decoy according to the operating commands; and 
 wirelessly communicate with additional game decoys to coordinate movement of the game decoy and the additional game decoys.